Vicodin effects on the liver

I had originally posted this question in the addictions forum, but that really wasn't an appropriate spot for it.   Several months ago, almost 5, I started to develop pain and tingling in my left leg.  On the outside, starting at the hip and going down to the kneecap.  After a few visits to the doctor and different tests he's narrowed it down to either some nerve compression in the leg itself from some benign cysts that have been there since I was a kid or from a case of sciatica.  I'm set to see a specialist on this, but don't have the appointment for like a month and a half.  For the past two and a half months the doctor has prescribed me Vicodin, 5/500, with the instructions to take 1-2 tablets up to twice daily as needed.  I've found the pain itself isn't knocked out very much by the Vicodin but the pain itself is not the biggest problem.  It's the tingling of the nerves in the leg when I try to sleep, so that's when I take two of the pills.  They ease my mind enough to let me get a decent night's sleep.

Now to my question, which isn't about addiction specifically but is in regards to this amount.  I never take more than two of the pills in a day, which is 1000mg APAP.  I also skip days, say two days on, then one or two off.  It's harder on my sleep on the off days, but I really don't want my system to get totally used to the narcotic and, the biggest thing, I'm afraid of the effects of the acetaminophen on my liver.  I guess reading about it on the Internet has made me totally paranoid.  I also sometimes drink on Saturdays.  I always know if I'll be drinking ahead of time so on that Friday I make sure never to take the Vicodin.  I'll also skip the Sunday....maybe starting again on Monday night a couple hours before bed.    My question is whether this dosing procedure, which could go on for about 5 months depending on what ths specialist says, is putting my liver in danger?  I know that the 1000mg dose is only one fourth of the maximum daily recommended dose for APAP but I've read chronically using it even in therapeutic doses can sap the liver. And would the drinking be dangerous even though I'm only doing it one day at the most and spacing it between days of dosing?   Sorry for the length of this question and any answers would be appreciated.

[kitson22]

acetaminophen can crash your liver rather quickly.  i know quite a few people who have crashed their liver just by using exta strength tylenol for too long.  there are a couple things that i would recomend.  
1.  don't depend on the vicodine to help you sleep.  ask your doctor for a non nrcotic sleep aid such as trazadone or seraquel (sp?).

2.  treating pain is good, but you need to treat the problem thats causing the pain.  this is something that your doctor should be working on.  i'd make another appt and discuss why you are still having to take this medication.  

3.  non-narcotic pain meds are availible with a persciption.  these non narcotic medicines can work almost as well as the vicodine you are taking, with less side effects (such as constipations and depression which is very common with vicodine) and pose no threat to your liver.  you can make an appt with a pain specialist and they can help make sure you continue to live a healthy pain-free life!  hope this helped.